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Laguna Hills approves incremental safety measures for Bridlewood Drive and Vista Viejo after residents cite dangerous corner cutting
Summary
After residents reported persistent speeding and unsafe left turns, the commission approved staff’s incremental approach — enforcement, radar trailers, striping, added pavement legends and trial 'virtual median' markings/raised markers — and asked staff to monitor results and return with a six‑month follow‑up report.
Laguna Hills’ Traffic Commission voted May 21 to approve city staff’s incremental approach to address speeding and safety concerns on Bridlewood Drive and Vista Viejo — adding targeted striping, signage and a low‑impact median‑style treatment — after multiple residents described persistent high speeds and a hazardous left turn into Bridal Wood.
"I don't believe there's been any enforcement," said Aaron Myers, a Bridlewood resident, recounting near misses when downhill vehicles turning onto Bridal Wood cut into oncoming lanes. "It's a very dangerous situation because you have cars coming around that corner at 30, 40 miles an hour." Myers told the commission he has seen cars parked illegally and said prior recommendations had not produced durable results.
Assistant Engineer Samantha presented results from a four‑day speed survey conducted in January 2025 and a follow‑up in April that showed prevailing 80th‑percentile speeds had increased since the last full study (April 2020). Staff said both roads have generally low vehicle volumes but exhibit "spotty" high‑speed occurrences. The residential street management policy calls for incremental remedies when prevailing speeds are 32–34 mph or higher, unusual conditions exist, or speed‑related collisions are documented.
Staff recommended increased enforcement and portable radar feedback trailers, placement of centerline striping on Bridlewood, "watch downhill speed" signs and additional 30‑mph pavement legends on Vista Viejo, followed by another speed survey in six months. City Engineer Ames proposed trialing a painted/virtual median and small raised reflectorized markers at the Vista Viejo/Bridal Wood approach to deter left‑turn corner cutting as a low‑cost, reversible test.
Commissioners debated tradeoffs between low‑cost measures and more intrusive physical devices (speed cushions or humps) that can affect emergency response. Several commissioners supported the "soft landing" incremental approach while urging staff and the sheriff’s deputies to prioritize targeted enforcement in known hot spots.
Chair moved to approve staff’s recommendation with the added low‑impact median element; the motion was seconded and carried by the commission.
Staff will implement the incremental measures, task enforcement personnel with periodic checks, and perform a follow‑up speed survey in six months to determine whether the measures reduce the observed speeding and whether further physical devices should be studied or proposed to the City Council.
